Nationals send home top pick from last year

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Washington Nationals sent Seth Romero, last year’s first-round draft choice, home from camp for an unspecified violation of team policy.

This isn’t the first time Romero has been in trouble.

During his final season at the University of Houston, the Cougars kicked Romero off the team for a violation of team rules. Projected as an early first-round pick, Romero was selected by the Nationals at pick No. 25.

The youngster had been on the minor league side of Nationals camp. GM Mike Rizzo didn’t offer a timeframe for Romero’s return.

Romero pitched in one game for the Nationals’ rookie league team and six for Auburn, their short-season Class A team, last season, posting an 0-1 record with a 4.91 ERA in 22 innings.

The left-hander went 4-5 with a 3.51 ERA as a junior at the University of Houston before being kicked off the team in May. Romero throws a fastball which can reach 95 mph, a slider and a change-up.

Elsewhere:

n Yu Darvish threw two hitless innings in his spring training debut for the Chicago Cubs, facing his former teammates on the Los Angeles Dodgers. When last on the mound, Darvish was chased by Houston after getting just five outs in both Games 3 and 7 of the World Series. Darvish said he was moved to lose 15 pounds “because of what happened in the World Series.”

n Tim Lincecum arrived at the Texas Rangers’ spring training camp, ready to finalize a contract and return to the major leagues for the first time in two years. The 33-year-old right-hander took a physical Tuesday. He figures to compete for a bullpen spot. General manager Jon Daniels said the four-time All-Star has been throwing bullpen sessions on his own.

n Outfielder Jon Jay agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, a deal that allows him to earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses. Jay, who turns 33 on March 15, hit .296 with two homers and 34 RBIs in 141 games last season with the Chicago Cubs, and did not commit an error.

n Designated hitter Brandon Moss was released by the Oakland Athletics. Moss was acquired from Kansas City on Jan. 29 and was 4 for 10 with two walks in four spring training games. He hit .207 with 22 homers and 50 RBIs in 118 games for Kansas City last year.